2008 blasts: Mumbai Jail officer directed to produce accused

The Superintendent of Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai has been asked by a court here to produce five suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives, facing trial in the September 2008 Delhi serial blasts case, in person before it on every third Saturday of each month.
The direction came after the five accused, who are now lodged in the Arthur Road Jail in connection with another case lodged against them there, requested it that they must be produced before the court here in person at least once a month so that they could be aware about the progress in their case.
The five accused -- Mohd Akbar Ismaile, Mohd Mansoor Asgar Peerbhoy, Mubin Kadar Sheikh, Asif Bashruddin and Mohd Sadik Israr Ahmed -- were produced before the court from Arthur Road Jail in pursuance to production warrants issued against them.

"All (five accused) pray that they must be produced before this court in person at least once a month so as to ensure they are aware about the progress in their matter and they may be produced via video conferencing on other days of the month.
"It is directed that Superintendent of Arthur Road Jail Mumbai shall produce accused persons Mohd Akbar Ismaile, Mohd Mansoor Asgar Peerbhoy, Mubin Kadar Sheikh, Asif Bashruddin and Mohd Sadik Israr Ahmed before this court in person on every third Saturday of each month and shall be produced via video conferencing on the remaining two working Saturdays at 2 PM," Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh said.

The court has fixed the case for recording of prosecution evidence on November 22.
These five accused, along with eight other suspected IM members, are facing trial in connection with the September 13, 2008 serial blasts in Delhi that claimed 26 lives and left 135 people injured.